the less we shall feel like exalting ourselves.
Those whom heaven recognizes as holy
ones are the last to parade their own good-
ness."—Christ's Object Lessons,
page 160.
4.
What is the effect of faith upon
the law? Rom. 3:31.
NoTE.—"Is he [man] now free to trans-
gress God's law? Says Paul: `Do we then
make void the law through faith? God
forbid: yea, we establish the law.' How
shall we, that are dead to sin, live any
longer therein?' And John declares, 'This
is the love of God, that we keep His com-
mandments: and His commandments are
not grievous.' In the new birth the heart
is brought into harmony with God, as it
is brought into accord with His law."—
The Great Controversy,
page 468.
Example of Righteousness
by Faith
5.
With what great man does Paul
resume his theme? What fact does
he emphasize? Rom. 4:1-3.
NoTE.—It is important to keep in mind
that Paul is speaking to Christians. The
supreme example of justification by faith
in the Old Testament is Abraham; he is its
most commanding figure. The particular
point to bear in mind here is that he was
justified and became the spiritual father of
all believers while he was uncircumcised,
and
thus became the spiritual father of the
Gentiles.
So one can understand the force
of Paul's question, which is, literally, "What
then shall we say? that we find Abraham
[to be] our physical ancestor [only], ac-
cording to the flesh?" This is a question
that Paul is asking each Christian: "What
is your personal relation to Abraham? Is
he merely a physical ancestor, or is he
your spiritual father ?"
6.
What does God do when the
sinner exercises faith? Rom. 4:4-8.
NoTz."Believeth on Hifi.
Or; 'has
faith. in Him,' ',trusts. in
Him' (see
on ch.
3:3). This faith is not mere belief in the
goodness of God, but is trust in God Him-
self as justifying those who, if justice were
enforced without mercy, could not be justi-
fied.
It implies not only confidence in the
promises of God but also complete self-
surrender of the heart and life to the One
whom the believer has learned to trust.
Believing on Him means more than regard-
ing His word as true. It designates a
personal relation."—The Seventh-day Ad-
ventist Bible Commentary,
on Rom. 4:5.
The psalmist made note of that three-
fold blessedness of the believer that is spo-
ken of as imputing to him God's own
divine righteousness. The threefold division,
in Paul's words, is as follows:
Blessed are they whose "lawlessnesses"
are forgiven.
Blessed are they whose sins are "com-
pletely covered up."
Blessed the man to whom the Lord will
not reckon sin.
This nonreckoning of sin has its positive
counterpart in the reckoning of God's
righteousness to the sinner.
7.
When was faith reckoned to
Abraham for righteousness? Of whom
did Abraham become the spiritual
father? Rom. 4:9-12.
NcrrE.—Both Moses (Gen: 15:6) and
James (James 2:23) say the same thing,
that something was reckoned to Abraham
as righteousness, namely, his faith. Be-
cause Abraham accepted God's word of
promise as absolutely dependable and true,
God accepted him as a person who had
filled to the full all His requirements. Abra-
ham had no righteousness of his own; God
reckoned His own righteousness to Abra-
ham because his faith reached even to Jesus
Christ on the cross.
.• The historical record of Abraham's jus-
tification is found in Genesis 15, and con-
tains no mention of his circumcision. The
record. of his circumcision is given in Gene-
sis 17, and did not occur until some four-
teen years after his justification
-
. .This con-
firms that Abraham was justified. solely .on
the -basis -of his-personal faith.; :at_ which
time- God
-
• Made
.
:His covenant _:With. -the
patriarch. Gen..: 15::18.- Inasmuch •-as_ the
patriarch - was - justified by: faith -years be-
In I